WILD DUCKS. 285 
posed of fourteen tapering feathers, and the two in the 
middle project far beyond the others. Its call is a low, 
plaintive whistle of one note, which is repeated two or 
three times. It is one of the most graceful members of 
its family, and also one of the best for the table. It asso- 
ciates freely with the green-heads, especially in streams, 
and flocks of both species may be frequently found feed- 
ing and roosting together. It readily answers to the call- 
note of the mallard, and seldom passes decoys without 
PINTAIL DUCK. 
paying them avisit. When this duck moves in teams, or 
flocks, it is rather unsuspicious, as if numbers gave it 
confidence, but if shot at much it becomes exceedingly 
wary. Bunches decoy much better than single birds, but 
to make a good bag, the stools, or decoys, ought to be 
planted to the windward, as the birds have a habit of cir- 
cling to the leeward before settling. They are harder to 
kill on the wing than the green-heads, as their flight is 
much more rapid and erratic, and they indulge in wheel- 
ing motions that are peculiar to themselves. They have 
